Which U.S. insurer, founded in 1936, is known by the acronym GEICO?

The U.S. insurer founded in 1936 and known as GEICO is the Government Employees Insurance Company.

Leo Goodwin Sr. and his wife, Lillian, established GEICO in Washington, D.C., initially targeting federal government employees and military personnel. The company began as a direct-to-consumer auto insurer, a model that helped reduce distribution costs.

Despite its name, GEICO is not a government agency and has never been part of the U.S. federal government. Its initials reflect its original target market rather than government ownership.

GEICO became a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway in 1996. Its advertising campaigns, especially the gecko introduced in 1999, made the company one of the best-known insurance brands in the United States.